DESCRIPTION: Picture this: you’re standing at the trailhead, full of enthusiasm and optimism. The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and you’re ready to conquer this mountain like any other hike . However, Mount Baden-Powell has a dark side that will make you question your life choices. Winding its way up the north face of one of the tallest mountains in the San Gabriels, this iconic trek features 35 to 40 never-ending switchbacks that exist purely to mock your physical preparation and repeatedly whack your spirit. It’s basically a vertical game of “Whack-a-Mole,” but your thighs and lungs are the moles.
You will earn every single foot of this climb as you ascend through stands of Jeffrey, Ponderosa, and Lodgepole pines, eventually reaching the timberline where you’ll pass Wally Waldon—a 1,500-year-old Limber Pine who is a local celebrity and has been judging hikers since the fall of the Western Roman Empire. If you survive the switchbacks and the altitude, the summit rewards you with stunning vistas, breathtaking views of the San Gabriels, and a sense of accomplishment that almost makes you forget you have to walk all the way back down.
Hike Organizer(s): Paul H
- Meet: Vincent Gulch Divide / Vincent Gap trailhead parking lot at 6:45 AM. We start moving at 7:00 AM sharp on Saturday, Sept 19 . If you are late, you will be left behind to contemplate your poor time management skills.
- Distance: Approximately 7.8 to 8.0 miles (out-and-back).
- Elevation Gain: Approximately 2,800 feet of climb.
- Highest Elevation: 9,407 feet.
Time: Approximately 4.0–5.0 hours depending on how long we spend weeping or eating sandwiches at the summit. - Conditioning: Moderate/ Strenuous You must be in generally good physical shape. If your main form of exercise over the last 90 days has been scrolling social media, this hike will break you.
- Dogs: OK, but only if they are on a leash and well-behaved around other dogs and people waving trekking poles.
- Restrooms: YES! There are pit toilets at the Vincent Gap trailhead . Use them to say a quick prayer before we begin.
- The parking fee details and rules include: It costs $5 per day (Standard Passes Are Not Accepted: Because this lot is concession-run, traditional federal and state passes—including the National Parks / America the Beautiful Pass and the California Adventure Pass—are no longer accepted inside the paved lot.) If you want to bypass the fee, you can join the rest of the rebels and park in the dirt pullouts across the road.
IMPORTANT NOTES (Read these or suffer the consequences):
- ⚠️ CRITICAL ROAD CLOSURE INFO: Highway 2 is closed at Red Box / Islip Saddle Do NOT blindly trust Google Maps or Apple Maps if they tell you to drive up the Angeles Crest Highway from La Cañada. You must take the route through Newhall via CA-14 North and Pearblossom Highway, coming in from the northeast side through Wrightwood. Plan for extra driving time!
- Weather: Rain, high winds, or extreme heat cancels this event. Check the weather before leaving. Remember, it gets chilly above 9,000 feet, so packing a jacket is a smart move even if it’s warm at home.
ESSENTIAL GEAR:
- Water & Electrolytes: Bring at least 3+ Liters of water and some Gatorade/electrolytes [13, 19]. There is no potable water at the trailhead or on the mountain.
- Trekking Poles: Highly recommended to preserve your knees and help you balance on the switchbacks.
- Layers: A hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, and an extra layer (jacket/windbreaker) for the windy, exposed summit.
- Food: High-energy snacks and a solid lunch for our “snacky time” at the summit.
- Footwear: Sturdy hiking shoes or trail runners with excellent tread are non-negotiable. No slick-soled tennis shoes or sandals unless you want to slide down the mountain on your face.
THIS HIKE RATING: Level 4, Strenuous
Please only sign up if you have hiked similar distances and gains in the last 90 days.
SCVH HIKE RATING SCALE:
- Beginner: 1–3 miles, less than 500 feet elevation gain.
- Beginner/Intermediate: 1–7 miles, less than 700 feet elevation gain.
- Intermediate: 5–10 miles, 1,000–2,000 feet elevation gain.
- Strenuous: 5-12 miles, 2,000-3,500 feet elevation gain (This Hike!).
DISCLAIMER / RELEASE OF LIABILITY — PLEASE READ IN ITS ENTIRETY
When you sign up for this event, you are releasing Santa Clarita Valley Hikers (SCVHikers) and its volunteer organizers from any liability or responsibility in connection with your participation in this activity. Hiking is inherently risky. By signing up, you are taking full responsibility for your own safety and well-being.
SCVHikers and its organizers are not trained, certified, or compensated guides, and the club does not confirm the qualifications of any member to lead or participate in its events. All participants take full responsibility for their own actions and judgment.
By signing up for any SCVHikers event, you are releasing SCVHikers and its organizers from all liability for possible injury or death, as stated in paragraph 6.2 of the Meetup Terms of Service (available at the bottom of the Meetup website). Your personal safety depends on your own judgment and experience. If you sign up for this hike, you are confirming that the hike is within your current abilities.
At the trailhead, we will ask every participant to read and sign the SCVHikers Release of Liability and Express Assumption of Risk before the hike begins. If you are unwilling to sign, you will not be able to join the group that day. Signing up on Meetup does not substitute for the trailhead sign-in.
The outing begins and ends at the trailhead. SCVHikers does not organize, advertise, or coordinate carpools. Transportation to and from the trailhead is your own responsibility, and all risks of that travel are yours alone.
This event may be cancelled or modified due to weather, trail conditions, or other safety considerations.
